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Predictors of burden among lower socioeconomic status caregivers of persons with chronic mental illness

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Abstract

This study uses a stress-coping-support framework to examine the predictors of caregiver burden with a sample of 103 lower social class family caregivers of persons with chronic mental illness. Results of multiple regression analyses show that the greater the frequency of client behavioral symptoms and the lower the amount of perceived support from family members, the higher the level of overall caregiver burden. Examination of the predictors of specific types of burden-family disruption, stigma, strain, and dependency-reveal that different constellations of variables predict different types of burden. The need for mental health agencies to address caregiver and client concerns is addressed. Implications are presented for practice and future research.

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Research for this paper was supported in part by grant #89-1022 from the Office of Program Evaluation and Research, Ohio Department of Mental Health and by the Center for Practice Innovations, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University. Kyle Kercher, Ph.D., is thanked for providing statistical consultation for this paper, Elizabeth Robinson, Esther Sales and Mark Singer are thanked for reviewing an earlier draft of the paper.

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Biegel, D.E., Milligan, S.E., Putnam, P.L. et al. Predictors of burden among lower socioeconomic status caregivers of persons with chronic mental illness. Community Ment Health J 30, 473–494 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02189064

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